SKD

I see it as a mark I’d respect for the country you reside in. If a country in the Middle East had something similar, I’d expect any ‘westerners’ to follow it as well. It’s all nonsense really. He could have just worn one (with a specialised to WW1/2) then this argument wouldn’t even take place.

Well he turned his back on the British national anthem pre season a few years back. The bloke is anti establishment, anti British and I’d go as far as saying a terroist supporter (quoting Bobby Sands on his Instagram post). He hates the queen, yet he’s happy to take the money with her face on it. He needs to f*ck off and play either in Ireland or for Celtic to end all this ****. I get his reasons for disliking the British armed forces, but he along with the small minority of knobhead celtic fans need to remember at the end of the day they are British and many of them would have had family members who died in WW1/WW2. Don’t agree with Matic not wearing one either, FWIW.

Reasonable shout. Was assistant to Cocu in Turkey but he’s recently been sacked. Rein knows the club and didn’t want to leave in the first place. Personally I’d go for Rodgers then failing that a European option Jardim, Bosz etc. But I’d much rather we take a gamble on a young head then go for a safe pair of hands (I.e Moyes/Bruce). I’d be inclined to give Arteta a pop and stick with him (assuming we see some kind of improvement) and let him rebuild in the championship if we go down.

Sacking Reed tomorrow won’t improve on field results straight away. They both need to go, it’s that simple really.

This. City can put 6 past anyone on their day, but today they didn’t even get out of second gear. Go away to city, have a go and get hit for 6 you can accept, but to put out a complete non performance and get tanked 6 makes you angry. Really don’t know where to go from here. Hughes clearly has to go, but I’m not convinced it’ll make a great deal of difference.

My concern is that should we, which is looking increasing likely, go down this season, we still have to pay £20m for ings. That will be a significant chunk of our transfer budget gone. We’ll essentially be stuck with £40m worth of pretty average CF’s. Very worrying.

Pretty much this, otherwise I don’t see how it can benefit a club like us in any way, shape or form. Like it or not, the PL money does help us as a club. Potentially, if it’s sucessful it could shape top flight football as a whole. Could they make divisions? Personally, I’d much rather see us play top flight teams from Italy, France, Germany or Spain every week than I would Newcastle or Stoke (given the cost of railfair it’d Probably be cheaper as well). Essentially take the big 5 or 6 away and they’d just be replaced by someone else, probably Everton/Tottenham etc and owners / clubs who are desperate to break into the ‘super league’. If there is no promotion/relegation etc I don’t see how they can pass it? How have the decided the teams who’ll be in it? Do Arsenal deserve a place anymore than Tottenham?

Could he do a job as a “regista” in a 433. Picking the ball up from deep, often the CB’s, turn and look for a forward pass? With Lemina/PEH ahead of him it could work I suppose.

But be won’t though, as mentioned in my original post there are players who are miles ahead of him currently and what he has ever been. That’s not even taking into consideration Alli, Dier, Henderson or any of the wingers (Sterling, Sancho, Rashford etc). Also, where do you play him in our side? Not convinced he gets in anywhere, as he hasn’t under the previous 5 managers (other than probably Puel).

As it’s his birthday today (24 now), perfect time to reflect on his performance over the past few years and what he needs to do for the sake of his career. Watching Chelsea/Derby last night, it really struck home how far JWP as fallen really. Once a poster boy for the club and FA (under 21 captain etc.), he is now probably as far away from an England call up as he has ever been. It may be due to competition or even game time, but watching Loftus-Cheeky, Barkley, Mount, Maddison, Foden and even Grealish (all similar players of a similar age/ younger) over the past 18 months, they are all streets ahead of him. Even in a deeper, more traditional CM role, you have Lewis Cook, Harry Winks, Tom Davies who are all more likely for a call up for the national team. I think it’s clear to everyone that he’s a good ‘pro’ who has been well coached, but the reality is the modern game doesn’t really have a place for a player like him, in Midfield anyway. Personally, I think he is too weak and slow to play in CM and doesn’t have the flair / creativity to play out wide (I like my wingers to be quick and almost play as a forward). Maybe he could develop into a Pirlo type CDM, but again hes good with the ball but pretty safe (doesn’t have that defence splitting pass in him, imo). I know JWP is a bit marmite, and Personally I don’t think there is a place for him in his current format / our system. However, I do think he has a future at the club and IMO I think he’d make a good RB (Tipper esque). Especially as we’re crying out for one with pretty much no competition to Cedric. Not a thread to bash him or if we should/shouldn’t sell, more of a constructive ‘what can we do to improve him / resurrect his career?’

You’re right. The owner (and fat Kat) are ultimately to blame. They appointed Les (as Vixe-chair)/Ross/Ralph, they’ve persisted with them for this long and they set the strategy. I’d imagine the owner(s) are looking at it as a successful job. The reality is neither have a clue about football and as long we were in the PL and putting £ in their pocket they’re happy. However, Les / Ross have had a lot of money and have pretty much wasted it. Bloated out the squad with average and brought in ‘bad eggs’. For example, spending £20m on Carrillo when it was obvious to everyone 1) he wasn’t going to cut it 2) MP would be gone not long after should be enough to call for their heads as it is. Then you have management appointments. Puel wasn’t a bad appointment and at the time it looked an astute one, although at the time I feel we could have done better given our position (however his inability to keep a squad happy, same at Leciester, was his downfall), but then taking as long as it did to replace him, putting all our eggs in Tuchel’s basket, leaving us with MP was farcical. I do not believe that anyone can think someone else wouldn’t have done a better job than them 2 nuggets over the past 2/3 years. As many have said, change is needed across the board. We need a new owner, new direction and new people in charge of the day to day running of the club (I.e Ross /Les). It appears Kat has sold us down the river to her mate/first interested party - that fat b!tch has a lot to answer for as well. Gap isn’t going to sell up so soon after taking over and all appears that he certainly doesn’t have the cash needed to push us on, so I can see things getting a lot worse before they get any better.

4-3-3 McCarthy Cedric VvD Toby Bertrand Lemina Romeu PEH Redmond Le Tiss Mane

I’d buy this, however I’d swap JWP for Armstrong and try Gabbi RW. Less emphasis on forwards getting back, leaving them high to hit teams with pace on the counter. Similar system to Liverpool, just with significantly less talent.

Such a sad situation. As many have pointed out, a lot of focus on the chairman and understandably so, but let’s not forget 2 dads/brothers/sons went to work and never came home. Feel like Leicester as a football club will be in safe hands with his son, who is already vice-chair, but also very sad for him if reports are true that his whole family were on there. A real shame their ‘fairytale’ ended, or at the very least has this, attached to it. Hope the players and staff (who seemed very close to him) are holding up well.

I would never wish what happened on anyone, but if the same happened to Gao, would you be that cut up about it? This bloke, seems like a genuine decent bloke who not only cared about the football club, but the city as well. To me, from the outside looking in, it seems similar to when Markus passed. The fans had a real sense of connection between the owner and the club, they respected and are greatful for everything he has done. Should the same happen to Gao tomorrow, of course I’d sad that it happened (as I would if it happened to anyone), but I can’t say it’d have the same impact it did than when Markus (or even this fella) passed. It goes to show the disconnection we as fans have with the club atm I guess.

Scrapped a draw against 10 men West Ham. Let’s see if he’s still in charge come our game. He may get lucky as we could be the team to save his job, if not gone before that.

Maddison looks a player, exactly what we’re after. Shame we couldn’t get this one across the line (not a dig at the board as e had genuine reasons to join them).

How is this bloke still playing top level and international football? and earning a sh!t ton of money for it. Touch is awful, hold up play not much better and his finishing is pub Sunday football level. The only thing he offers is the being able to run in behind and stretch their defence, but if we want someone who’s only ability is to run fast we may as well sign Usain Bolt. Surely we have better in the football club than this clown. Time to give him and Austin a prolonged rest and give Gallagher and Obafemi a chance I think. It cant be any worse.

Shocking CB pairing, simply shocking. Will be a 4231 with ings dropping into the 10 I’d have thought. Austin tends to do well against Bompey so can understand he inclusion, but Stephens!?!? Assuming Vest been left out due to the pace of their front 2? And Hodet seems to be first name on the team sheet, can only assume he’s sucking Hughes off during the week? Better hope Bournemouth have an off day.

I did watch the Croatia game and, whilst it was dull for the majority of the game (empty stadium didn’t help) I think England played pretty well. If rashford had put away his 2 chances then we win 2-0 and probably go on to win the group. I just don’t enjoy watching saints anymore. Boring, negative football with a squad of about 90% that don’t want to be here.

What a pleasing sight it is watching a team full of young, fearless lads who seem to genuinely love playing for their team/country. I’d much rather watch England and international football than I would saints / the premier league millions and players stealing a living not giving 2 sh!ts about the club the play for. Well done Southgate. Also, what a great idea the nations league is btw.

Looks like Leicester are going to sack Puel. If we are going to move on from Hughes, we need to do it quick as they’ll be looking at the same targets as us. I’ve seen them linked with Rodgers and the old leipzig manager. I’d take either but doubt they’d chose us over Leicester...

Had Cortese stayed, Poch would have stayed. Had Poch stayed, most of the players would have stayed (we’d have only lost Shaw and Lambert most likely). The squad loved poch (and Cortese as it happens), when he left “the project died”. That from a source within the club at the time who worked very closely to Poch.

I think you’re pretty spot on with this. Ironically, historically, our big money signings have all been pretty sh!t in terms on ROI for the club. It’s easy to say x y & z club are spending £30m, why aren’t we, but I wouldn’t trust the dinlo decision makers at our club to spend £30m. Simply put, to me watching our decline is just like watching Villa, Swansea and Sunderland (maybe not to their extent) of past years.

Chuck me out there and I’ll run around and look like I give a toss. That won’t make/help us win football games though. I’m at the point of giving up, we practically need a whole new 11. We’ve got some decent players but something is clearly very wrong in the camp.